Sectional preformed full dentures and method of assembling the same



Aug. 15, 1967 T. WICHNER 3,335,495

SECTION/XL PREFORMED FULL DENTURES AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Filed June 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. THEODORE WICHNER ATTORNEY Aug. 15, 1967 T. WICHNER 3,335,495

SECTIONAL PRBFORMED FULL DENTU AND METHOD 0? Ass EMBLING THE S Filed June 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 13

INVENTOR.

THEODOQE WICHNEP ATTORNEY States This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 186,416, filed Apr. 10, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in artificial dentures and the method of manufacture and fitting of said dentures.

There are many people who have lost their natural teeth and who, for economic and other reasons, are unable to obtain artificial denture replacements through the services of professional dentistry. Many neglect having proper artificial denture replacements made because of the time consuming element since the fitting work normally requires a great many trips to the dentists oflice before a proper and satisfactory fitting of the dentures can be completed.

Attempts have been made to overcome these difliculties in the past but have not been entirely satisfactory. One of such attempts is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,685,133, issued Aug. 3, 1954, on Method of Fitting Dentures, jointly to Benjamin N. Greene and Theodore Wichner. Said Theodore Wichner is the sole inventor of this present invention, which is a substantial improvement over the aforementioned patent wherein he was a co-inventor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an artificial sectional preformed denture and method of manufacturing and fitting said denture which will be of very low cost.

Another object is to provide an artificial sectional preformed full denture which can be fitted by the dentist in a minimum of time, avoiding delays due to frequent fitting appointments with the patient.

Still another object is to provide a sectional preformed full denture with which a custom made restoration can be made quickly while assuring an easy and perfect fit.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sectional preformed denture having separate and interchangeable teeth Which can be easily and rapidly assembled by the dentist or by individuals without the aid of a dentist.

Another object is to provide a sectional preformed artificial denture which can be assembled precisely, esthetically and rapidly by the dentist and laboratory manufacturing technicians employing ordinary skills in a minimum of Working time.

To accomplish these objects, this invention provides separate preformed parts consisting principally of a base which fits directly over the gums, a blank which is adapted to be attached to the base, vertically projecting posts fixed to the blank for each individual tooth, and separate individual teeth which slida bly fit over said posts and may be finally securely mounted in fixed permanent position on the posts.

This invention contemplates the provision of a set of at least three base and matched blank combinations, with regard to the shape of the natural tooth formation in the mouth, namely, tapered, square, and ovoid, also deep and fiat, shallow palates.

Three or more sizes of base and matching blank combinations are also provided, namely, small, medium and large for different sized mouths.

Complete sets of separate individual artificial teeth are also provided, which are particularly adapted to slip on to the individual posts of the blank. These sets of separate atent Q individual teeth can be provided in a variety of shades or colors, as well as shapes and sizes, if desired.

Also, groups or sections of teeth may be provided that will only fit on predetermined positioned posts to prevent an individual from inserting certain types of teeth in incorrect positions in the mouth.

Other objects and features of this invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the base of an upper artifical denture made in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a similar perspective view of the blank illustrating the posts with the teeth to be fixed in place thereon, shown in exploded relation to the blank.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the vertically projecting tooth posts which are fixed to the blank, together with the teeth to be mounted on said posts, shown in exploded relation thereto.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a blank for a lower artificial denture, shown with the individual teeth mounted in position thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a similar perspective view of the corresponding base for the lower denture blank shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the underside of the combined blank and base of an artificial denture made according to this invention, being of the tapered shape.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of said com bined denture base and blank, being of the square shape.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of said combined denture base and blank, being of the ovoid shape.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged frontal view of an individual post member and the tooth mounted thereon.

FIGURE 10 is a cross section of the assembled tooth and post taken on the line 10-10- of FIGURE 9,.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the underside of the base of a modified form of artificial denture.

FIGURE 12 is a cross section of the deep palate base shown in FIGURE 11 and taken on line 12-12 of FIG- URE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a cross section of a relatively shallow or flat palate.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a full palate upper base 20 of the preformed sectional artificial denture of this invention. The base 20 has a recessed area 21 extending nearly completely around its outer side surface which is adapted to receive a blank 22, FIGURE 2, of corresponding size and shape in close fitting relation thereto.

This upper blank 22 is provided with a set of vertically downwardly projecting posts 23, one for each tooth. These posts may be joined together or separate, and are fixedly mounted in any suitable manner to the blank 22.

A similar full palate base 25 is provided for the lower jaw, as shown in FIGURE 5, and this lower base 25 has a recessed area 26 extending nearly completely around theupper surface which is adapted to receive a lower blank 27, shown in FIGURE 4, which is of corresponding shape and designed for close fitting relation within the recessed area 26 of the lower base 25.

The blank 27 for the lower jaw, illustrated in FIGURE 4, is provided with a set of vertically upwardly projecting posts 28, one for each tooth. This arrangement is similar to that of the upper denture, and assembled in the same manner, and for the same purpose.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of four of the vertically upstanding posts 28 and separate individual artificial teeth 30 which are to be slipped over each post, and ultimately permanently fixed thereon.

Similar separate individual teeth 31 are provided for the upper denture, see FIGURE 2, and are mounted in the same manner.

Suitable locating pins 32 are fixed to upper base 20, as shown in FIGURE 1, and similar locating pins 33 are fixed to the lower base 25, as shown in FIGURE 5. These locating pins may be of any desirable size and arrangement which will aid the dentist or technician in joining the base and blank in final assembly, either for a lower denture or an upper one.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate a tooth in assembled position on a post as it will be trial fitted and later permanently fixed to the posts by cement or any other suitable fastening material.

In the operation of the preferred form of this invention, the dentist can perform nearly all of the fitting of the entire denture at one sitting or visit.

The dentist is supplied with a quantity of full palate bases, blanks and teeth which he uses to fit a patient, in the following manner:

First, the dentist will select the approximate size from his stock, choosing a small, medium or large base, as the patient requires, which base, in order to fit the shape of the patients mouth, will also be tapered, square or ovoid, such as illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, respectively.

This supply of bases for the upper plate will also be graded for deep palates, and shallow or fiat palates, (see FIGURES 13 and 14). Thus, nearly every type of mouth may be fitted as to size, shape of jaw, and depth of palate.

The next step in the fitting process is the size, shape and color of teeth desired to suit the patient esthetically and mechanically. The patients complexion, age and personal taste dictates the kind of tooth that looks most natural for that particular patient.

The dentist having a supply of teeth in various colors or shades and shapes and sizes, slips the teeth over the posts and inserts the assembled denture in the patients mouth. The patient can then look in a mirror and judge for himself, with the dentists expert suggestion as to the total effect. The sectional arrangement, provided by this invention, being temporary, will make it possible to see how the assemly will look before permanently cementing the teeth to the posts and the blank to the base.

The locating pins assist during the trial fitting, and subsequently, the final cementing of the various parts together in permanent relationship.

It is apparent, therefore, that the various parts can be fitted for final assembly in one sitting, if desired, insuring an excellent fit, as to size, shape, depth of palate, color of teeth.

After a decision has been made as to the choice of size, shape and contour of the base and blank, and color and shade of the teeth, the assembly is then joined in permanent relationship by cement or any other suitable adhesive.

All that remains to be done is to take an impression of the mouth to custom fit the base exactly to the patients exact requirements. By custom fitting is meant the usual procedure whereby a thermosetting bonding or plastic material is placed in the base and the base placed in the mouth until the plastic hardens to a shape exactly fitting the contour of the mouth of the wearer. This procedure is preferably done as a first step of the steps of assembling and fitting the dentures so that a correct fitting and comfortable base is obtained and in the mouth during the whole process of fitting the teeth on the posts of the blank attached on the fitted base.

It is thus apparent that this invention provides a denture which fits Well and has the desired appearance as to shade and color at very low cost and requiring a minimum of time on the part of the patient, and much less labor on the part of the dentist or technician.

4- What is claimed is: 1. A method of assembling and fitting a sectional preformed full denture into a patients mouth which comprises providing a base member with a size and contour to match the size and contour of the patients jaw and palate, and having locating pins projecting therefrom,

attaching to said base member over said locating pins a blank having posts projecting therefrom,

inserting a plurality of separate individual artificial teeth over said posts in sequence until said teeth cover all of said posts in a matching arrangement for appearance and proper bite in accordance with their color, shape, and size thereby forming a set,

removing each of said individual artificial teeth forming said set from said posts,

and reinserting each of said artificial teeth of said set on the said post from which it was last removed with an adhesive substance applied between the inside surface of said tooth and the surface of said post.

2. A method of assembling and fitting a sectional preformed full denture into a patients mouth which comprises providing a base member with a size and contour to match the size and contour of the patients jaw and palate,

forming a lining impression of the mouth in said base member by allowing a plastic substance in said base member to form in the shape of the contour of the patients gum,

attaching to said base member a blank having posts projecting therefrom, inserting a separate individual artificial tooth over each of said posts until said teeth cover all of said posts in a matched arrangement in accordance with their color, shape, and size thereby forming a set,

removing each of said individual artificial teeth forming the set from said posts,

and reinserting each of said separate individual artificial teeth of the set on the said post from which it was last removed with an adhesive substance applied between the inside surface of said tooth and the surface of said post.

3. A method of assembling and fitting a sectional preformed full denture into a patients mouth which comprises providing a base member with a size and contour to match the size and contour of the patients jaw and palate, and having locating pins projecting therefrom, attaching to said base member over said locating pins a blank having posts projecting therefrom,

inserting a plurality of separate individual artificial teeth over said posts in sequence until said teeth cover all of said posts in a matching arrangement for appearance and proper bite in accordance with their color, shape, and size thereby forming a set,

removing each of said individual artificial teeth of said set from said posts and detaching said base member from said blank,

replacing and cementing to said blank both said base member particularly molded to the shape to conform to the gum of the patient and aligned on said locating pins, and each of said individual artificial teeth of said set over said posts.

4. A method of fitting and assembling a sectional preformed denture into a patients mouth which comprises the steps of forming a lining impression of the mouth in a preformed full palate base while custom fitting said base to the patients palate,

attaching a preformed blank to said base,

attaching preformed artificial teeth to said blank to complete said preformed denture.

5. A method of assembling and fitting a sectional preformed full denture Which comprises the steps of pearance and bite prior to formation of the permanent denture comprising a full palate base member with lining material therein,

a tooth holding blank attached to said base member,

posts projecting from said blank and permanently attached thereto,

and individual artificial teeth, each having a hollow opening therein adapted to receive one of said posts,

each of said teeth removably fitted on one of said posts.

7. A sectional denture comprising a full palate base member,

locating pins attached to and projecting from said base member,

a tooth holding blank receiving said locating pins and attached to said base member,

posts projecting from said blank and attached thereto,

and individual artificial teeth having hollow openings therein adapted to receive each of said copings,

each of said teeth mounted individually on said posts.

8. An apparatus comprising a sectional preformed full denture which includes a preformed full base member to fit a patients month, said base member having locating pins projecting therefrom a plastic liner in said base member,

an impression in said plastic liner which custom fits the mouth,

a preformed blank having posts projecting therefrom attached to said base by means of said locating pins,

a plurality of separate individual artificial teeth fixed to said posts to complete the assembly of a full upper or lower denture.

9. A sectional preformed full denture comprising full upper and lower preformed base members,

tooth holding upper and lower preformed blanks having complementary surface fittings fixed to said upper and lower preformed base members,

posts projecting from said upper and lower preformed blanks and permanently attached thereto,

and a plurality of individual upper and lower artificial teeth each having a hollow opening therein shaped to receive one of said posts to complete the assembly,

including means permanently bonding said tooth holding blank to said base member,

and means permanently bonding said individual artificial teeth to said posts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,678 4/1936 Blake 322 2,685,133 8/1954 Greene et al. 322 2,817,900 12/1957 Glasser 322 RICHARD A. GA-UDET, Primary Examiner.

35 ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No i 3 335 ,495 August 15 1967 Theodore Wichner It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

H In the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5,

asslgnor to Valeria O. Wichner" should read assignor of one-half to Valeria O. Wichner Signed and sealed this 12th day of August 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

1. A METHOD OF ASSEMBLY AND FITTING A SECTIONAL PREFORMED FULL DENTURE INTO A PATIENT''S MOUTH WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A BASE MEMBER WITH A SIZE AND CONTOUR TO MATCH AND SIZE AND CONTOUR OF THE PATIENT''S JAW AND PALATE, AND HAVING LOCATING PINS PROJECTING THEREFROM, ATTACHING TO SAID BASE MEMBER OVER SAID LOCATING PINS A BLANK HAVING POSTS PROJECTING THEREFROM, INSERTING A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL ARTIFICIAL TEETH OVER SAID POSTS IN SEQUENCE UNTIL SAID TEETH COVER ALL OF SAID POSTS IN A MATCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR APPEARANCE AND PROPER BITE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR COLOR, SHAPE, AND SIZE THEREBY FORMING A SET, REMOVING EACH OF SAID INDIVIDUAL ARTIFICIAL TEETH FORMING SAID SET FROM SAID POSTS, AND REINSERTING EACH OF SAID ARTIFICIAL TEETL OF SAID SET ON THE SAID POST FROM WHICH IT WAS LAST REMOVED WITH AN ADHESIVE SUBSTANCE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID TOOTH AND THE SURFACE OF SAID POST. 